Meet Erica Boozer

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erica Boozer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Erica, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
To be 100% honest, I’m not sure anyone fully overcomes imposter syndrome…or even if they should. I think a little bit of it is necessary to keep you humble and self-aware. That being said – in the moments that I experience imposter syndrome, I remove myself from the task at hand…literally step away from the trigger. Go on a walk, get a glass of water, breathe. Then I remind myself that past versions of myself had dreamed of opportunities like this….and what is the worst thing that could happen? I play that scenario out and when I realize that no potential negative outcome is THAT drastic or life-changing, I am able to refocus.

When all else fails, call your mom & she’ll tell you how special you are and that you’re capable of anything you set your mind to…so stop crying and get to work.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a Nashville-based actor, director, producer, and about to start writing this year! Having lived previously in NYC and LA pursuing a career in entertainment, I relocated to my hometown of Nashville in 2020…ironically a few weeks before the pandemic.

With 4 feature films that I have a starring role in post-production with intended 2023 releases, I am looking forward to this upcoming year and finding my next challenging project.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Authenticity, Self-Awareness, and Preparedness

People want to work with genuine people, so never be too good to do the dirty work. You can be the lead of the film and still help clean up on the last day of shooting to ensure that your crew makes it to the wrap party at the time as the cast.

Knowing yourself and your boundaries is crucial in this industry. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself, even if it risks you booking the job or someone thinking you’re a “diva”. There are so many opportunities out there, so do not compromise yourself because you’re afraid it may be the last one. You can always create one for yourself.

Don’t give anyone the chance to say you were unprepared. Have systems in place to know your lines (and the meaning behind them) when called upon. Personally, I can’t spend weeks and weeks memorizing…I focus more on the tone of each scene, the flow of the scene and the significance in the story, then the day before I invest in the actual memorization of the script. This works for me as I have a strong memory that I trust and rely on, so you need to figure out what your process will be.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
In the last 12 months, I began worked behind the camera. First, as a script supervisor and continuity for an upcoming feature film called The Legend of Lake Hollow; and secondly as a director and producer of a short film called The Life, Death and Afterlife of Anna-Catherine.

I cannot adequately describe the impact that this has had on my acting, but I will try. The compassion I have for directors and producers grew immensely. It was always there, however sometimes in indie filmmaking, sets can run a little tense. I understand why now. There is a lot of pressure behind the scenes that is often shielded from actors in order to allow us to stay in character and focused on our performances. The unseen hours by producers, directors, editors, gaffers, DPs, etc are what truly make films, and, in my opinion, experiencing both sides of the camera is vital for any actor.

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